It's been a tough week for the Uruguay national team, they lost to Mexico 3-1 and even got angry for the treatment they've been getting in general during this tournament. Their board of director in the Uruguay FA, have even stated that it was a mistake to bring the Copa America to American soil, because the tournament is clearly arranged for Mexico or the United States to win it. But this is clearly only a way to cope with the painful first defeat.
This Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, they will get a new chance of getting their first three points against a not so needed national team of Venezuela, who just won their first match against Jamaica. One of their midfielder, Alvaro Gonzalez, expects to face a difficult Vinotinto and treat the game as if it was a final. They won't have Luis Suarez available yet, but his recovery is going very well regardless.
Gonzalez told the press that: "The match against Venezuela will be like a final. We have to show that we are an experienced team and know how to play with our backs against the wall. Venezuela will be looking to seal qualification against us. It would be a failure if we fail to qualify for the next round. But we are capable of dealing with the pressure. We have to go for it right from the start. We are not thinking about potentially meeting Argentina in the quarter-finals. Qualification is at stake against Venezuela."
Possible lineups:
Uruguay starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Muslera; M. Pereira, Gimenez, Godin, A. Pereira; Sanchez, Ramirez, Arevalo, Rolan; Lodeiro; Cavani.
Venezuela starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Hernandez; Rosales, Angel, Vizcarrondo, Feltscher; Rincon, Figuera; Guerra, Martinez, Seijas; Rondon.
Photo credit: Seleccion Uruguay